Pucquio

I recently went to Pucquio with a friend and I was blown away with the food quality! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by a friendly waiter who seated us at the bar. From this vantage point we were able to see the kitchen where we saw the cooks putting in a great amount of detail for each dish.We ended up starting with the pulpo a la parilla which was excellent and well balanced. The squid ink yuca paired well with the octopus. For my main, I went with the aji de gallina which is a chicken stew. This dish had an excellent complex flavor that kept me wanting to come back for more. My friend got the squid ink seafood rice which was also super tasty. I give this place top marks for attention to detail and food quality. The server was also very nice and really funny. I will say that our food took awhile to come out, but I would that it was due to a small kitchen staff who puts great detail on each dish. This a great restaurant and I'm excited to try more dishes in the future!

We had a great experience at Pucquio. Amazing food and great service. Interior is very small and cozy. I would recommend the lomo saltado!

What a fantastic restaurant!! Absolutely great in every way. Carlos and his family and crew have built a superb little restaurant along restaurant-row (College Avenue) that shines bright with wonderful service, an intimate setting (ask to sit at the kitchen bar to watch the dishes being prepared and to chat with the chef), amazing amazing food and, I gotta say, really great Sangria. The menu is neither small nor large (it's just right), and every dish delivers a wonderfully delicious experience with tremendous depth of flavor and beautiful balance. The Cebiche's are built in real-time with the freshest fish and ingredients and knock your socks off. I love the Pulpo a la Parrilla appetizer, and Lomo Saltado (wow!!), Chupe De Camarones (wow, wow!!) and Adobo de Chancho (so good). Every time I try a new dish, I add it to my favorites list. For a wonderful meal in a comfortable setting served up by talented chefs and staff, I highly recommend this gem. (recommend getting reservations)

I came here for my birthday dinner. Peruvian is my favorite and I've been to most/all Peruvian restaurants in the area. I was taken aback by how incredible everything was. Each dish stood out in its own right; I was particularly fond of the ceviche with leche de Tigre and the Lomo Saltado. I think the lomo was made with filet mignon medallions, or at least it tasted like it. Food is made to order, so it's incredibly fresh and certainly tastes like high quality ingredients are used. The service is above and beyond. They share each ingredient as they bring out each dish. They even gave me a small container for sauce in my to go box without asking. Everything was next level. This place is a must try!

A 3.5 is more accurate. Came on a Saturday evening for a birthday dinner with a small group of friends. We had a reservation so we were seated promptly indoors when we arrived. The venue is very small and intimate but they have additional seating outside if you need more space. On this night they were packed, every table inside was full.Our waiter was quite busy (he was the host, server, and runner all in one), but he was extremely kind and personable. When we let him know we were there for a birthday he gave us complementary glasses of champagne. He was also really helpful and answered all of our questions.However, because there was only one server, the service was admittedly very very slow. We placed our orders and did not receive our entrees until an hour and a half later. In the meantime, we sipped our champagne. I ordered the Arroz Con Mariscos and enjoyed it. The squid ink rice was briny and delicious. All of the seafood was perfectly cooked. The only thing that would've made it better to me would've been a bit of acid (like a squeeze of lemon juice). Overall, it's a nice place and I'd consider coming back, but not when I'm really hungry because the wait for our food was brutal lol.

Came here for my husbands birthday - everything was delicious. Got the octopus, one of the ceviches, the Peruvian paella, and a pisco sour. The server was so friendly and funny too. I liked the outside parklet spot, very private!I recommend making a reservation, it's a small place. Can't wait to come back!

Pucquio is North Oakland's goto Peruvian spot. I've traveled to Peru quite a bit, and this is one of the most authentic Peruvian spots in the Bay Area. They use high-quality ingredients. Everything is non-GMO and hormone-free and organic. Try the Cebiche del Pescado. I think it is their flagship dish. When we went, we looked at what other tables were ordering and we saw several of these. What's in it? Daily fish, Ají limo, onion, lime, and maldon. All as fresh as could be. At $24 it isn't cheap, but the quality is high. I also recommend the Mosaico Cebichero. It has the daily mixed fish, ginger, celery, and leche de tigre. I'm not exactly sure what leche de tigre is. I think it translates to milk of the tiger. Do they actually acquire tiger's milk for this dish? Well, whatever they are doing they need to keep on doing it. Its delicious. Its priced at $24.This place gets busy, so a reservation is advisable. You can make a reservation on their website.

I had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant for the first time. It exceeded all expectations. From the moment we entered, we were greeted warmly. The food was not only beautifully presented but also bursting with amazing flavors. Our server added to the experience with his vibrant energy and charming personality, making our dining experience even more fun! I'm already looking forward to returning with more friends! Whether you're dining alone or with a group, this place is the perfect spot to enjoy a variety of dishes. Another perk, you can walk to a handful of bars after dinner if that's what you fancy. Also note, while the restaurant is on the smaller side, I would say it would comfortably accommodate groups of 6-8 ensuring an intimate and cozy dining experience.

Came here on a Wednesday night and got seated right away. Made reservations via Open Table. My friend and I sat at the counter in front of the chefs since it is an open kitchen concept. I started with a Pisco Sour drink, which was super tasty! Sweet and you could barely taste the alcohol; they also made three little hearts on top of the egg whites which was really cute. We got the Ceviche de Pescado and quinoa beet salad, both of which were fresh, light and citrusy. Also got the grilled pulpo (octopus), which was soft and tender but I don't think I enjoyed the seasoning of it as much. Also tried the seafood paella, which had squid ink and a nice depth of flavor; shrimp were grilled nicely and head was juicy. They gave us a complimentary Peruvian rice pudding for dessert, which was super nice of them. The server and chefs were amazing! Super friendly and made sure we were well taken care of. Food came out in a timely manner and tasted really good overall. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for yummy Peruvian food, great ambiance, and excellent service.

YOU SHOULD BE EATING HERE!! We are SF foodies & this is our favorite restaurant in the East Bay. Adorable staff (sit at the counter & watch the incredible plating); beautifully curated $60 bottle wine list; best of the bay (& elsewhere) ceviches; impeccable seafood & ingredients (filet mignon in the lomo Saltado?); & fine dining touches @ a most reasonable price point (punches "above its weight"). In short, a jewel. We leave here happy.